The daughters of former American Idol contestant Caleb Flynn told him they won't visit him in prison after the singer and former church pastor was found guilty of killing his wife. Flynn, 40, was forced to listen to scathing statements from daughters Alyssa, 12, and Ava, 10, as he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of Ashley Flynn, who was fatally shot in their home in Tipp City, Ohio, in February.
Daughters' Statements in Court
The former reality show star sobbed in court as the statements were read out by family members, with Alyssa telling her dad it was 'sad that you can't love anyone but yourself', New York Post reports. 'You have already caused so much pain to your family and the world. The least you could do is tell everyone that you did it,' Alyssa said in reference to Flynn continuing to swear his innocence. She added: 'By the way, I don't plan on coming to see you.'
Meanwhile, Ava made her own heartbreaking statement to Flynn, addressing his affair with Alleigha Botner, an intern at the Ohio church he was working at. Calling her a 'dirty girl' and telling him he had 'sinned big time,' she added: 'Mommy was the perfect person, the absolutely perfect person. What did she ever do to make you hate her so much? She was my best friend and then you chose to kill the only mother I ever had.' The statement went on: 'You and Alleigha sinned big time but you still have a chance to tell God that you are sorry.'
Family's Grief and the Murder
The girls, who were 9 and 11 when Ashley was killed, are now being cared for by her sister, Kayla, and brother-in-law, Matthew Keyt, with the couple saying they are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their mother. 'Nearly every day we watch as Ashley's daughters visit their mother's graveside,' Matthew Keyt said. 'I watch them cry and talk to her. They often lie on the grass in front of her tombstone imagining that it will bring them a bit closer to their mom.'
Ashley, 37, was shot in the head on February 16 and pronounced dead at the scene by officers who thought they were responding to a burglary. 'Somebody broke into my home and killed my wife,' Flynn, 39, cried on the call at around 2:30am, urging authorities to 'please, please hurry', saying he was not sure if the intruder was still inside the property.
Trial and Conviction
The dad, who appeared on series 12 of American Idol in 2013, was arrested three days later and charged with murder, two counts of felonious assault, and two counts of tampering with evidence. They also pointed to his affair with Botner as a motive for the killing — specifically text messages he exchanged with the 24-year-old about wanting his wife dead, as well as the disappearance of a handgun which he normally kept in his Ford pick-up truck.
Botner — who admitted she now hates Caleb — broke down in court during the trial as she admitted sending him a message saying she wanted to kill his wife. 'I just wish I didn't say this,' Botner said when asked to read the message she had sent, revealing it read: 'I want to kill her, Caleb'. He in turn replied: 'That makes two of us.'
Despite being found guilty, Flynn has continued to insist that he did not harm his wife — even as he was sentenced. 'What I am most ashamed of and regret most of all are the awful things I said about Ashley,' he said. 'I loved her and love her. She was my wife. She was beautiful and amazing in countless ways. I will continue to fight for my innocence as long as the Lord allows me to, as I did not kill my wife.'
